Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon welcomes Utica as a new rival

Grand Rapids, Mich. - When the Syracuse Crunch entered the American Hockey League 19 seasons ago, owner Howard Dolgon waived his territorial rights to the Utica market with the hopes that someday his team would have another rival.

"Listen, it's less than 50 miles away,'' he said. "It gives our fans a chance to easily see our team on the road. It won't have an adverse effect on us at all.''

Dolgon said about two percent of his team's season ticket-holders live in the Utica area, and that it draws a handful of group sales packages from that region.

The possible loss of that business, Dolgon said, will be greatly surpassed by the number of Utica fans who will make the drive to watch their new team play in Syracuse.

"I think we'll get more when we play them,'' he said.

The Canucks' move to Utica presents many challenges. The franchise is owned and operated by Vancouver, meaning it could be moved in accordance with whatever deal the Canucks have struck with the city.

Utica's arena is primarily geared toward high school and college hockey use, and is a long ways from the amenities offered by most AHL facilities. More renovation is planned, however.

The distance between parent club and affiliate is also a problem, an issue that helped break up the two-year relationship between Syracuse and Anaheim. The longer travel time will require the Canucks to make recalls a day earlier than normal, and could at times preclude the immediate availability of send downs to Utica.

"Sometimes you don't have a choice,'' Dolgon said. "Maybe this was the best option for both parties. Obviously, they (Vancouver) did the research. For now, they believe this is the best place.''

Utica's arrival will likely mean some AHL realignment. Dolgon wouldn't discuss what form that might take, but said Syracuse won't be greatly impacted.

The AHL refused to confirm the move, saying only that a Board of Governors meeting took place on Thursday.